Danny Rohl sees Rangers progress despite boos from fans after draw at Tannadice

Danny Rohl understood the frustration of Rangers fans who booed the players following the last-gasp 2-2 draw with Dundee United but believes his side are going in the right direction.

United striker Zac Sapsford opened the scoring for the home side in the 11th minute before left-back Jayden Meghoma levelled in the 23rd minute for his first Gers goal since arriving on loan from Brentford.

Amar Fatah restored United’s lead in the 66th minute but in the sixth of six added minutes, Gers substitute Max Aarons was brought down in the box by Will Ferry and Nedim Bajrami fired the spot-kick high into the net but it was not enough for some of the travelling support who booed and jeered the players as they left the field.

Rangers are unbeaten in six William Hill Premiership games under Rohl and remain in fourth place, nine points behind leaders Hearts who drew at home to Kilmarnock, and now also nine behind Celtic who beat Dundee 1-0.

Rohl said: “I understand the fans’ reaction. They came here on a Wednesday evening, 6,000 people and they spend money to come to these games.

“For me, I have to find the right balance and be a good mirror for this group. If we win games, I’m not too positive and if we lose games I’m not too negative.

“If I see something not going in the right direction, I’m very clear. I said the last game (0-0 draw with Falkirk) was too slow.

“We didn’t attack enough. But tonight I saw a team capable of doing it. But it’s about being ruthless in both boxes, that’s the key part.

“If we do that, we can take steps forward. My job is now to find the right balance after this emotional game.

“We can speak about mentality because the team showed fight to the end to get something.

“On the weekend, we didn’t create a lot of chances – but tonight we had chances for maybe four games.

“But this is the other part – on Sunday we got a clean sheet. Tonight we didn’t have.

“If we could bring the two together, the clean sheet along with the style we played with tonight – we’ll get a lot of points in the future.

“Of course, we’re disappointed and I can understand the fans, I can take it. But we made a massive step from Falkirk to today.”

Jim Goodwin was left frustrated at the loss of two points so close to the end of the game.

The United boss said: “Obviously, right now, it feels very much like a defeat, when you concede so late on in the game and under those kind of circumstances, it’s a really sore one to take for us as a group, especially having put so much into the game.

“We defended well or my goalkeeper made big saves at key moments as well but I think if we managed to get first to that ball on the edge of the box in the 96th or 97th minute or whatever it was then I’m pretty sure the referee blows for full time and it’s going to be really memorable night here at Tannadice and a really valuable three points.”